Pondera County commissioners approve two encroachment agreements, update dispatch job descriptions and pass resolution opposing limits on MACO lobbying

Pondera County commissioners on Feb. 12 approved two encroachment agreements — one with the City of Conrad for a stormwater line along Blazin Road carrying runoff to Pendrick Creek, and a second for a driveway approach for Jacob and Haley Gray on Sam George Hill Road — adopted updated dispatcher/detention job descriptions, tabled a proposed part‑time court advocate and passed Resolution No. 18 opposing state legislation that would limit lobbying by the Montana Association of Counties.

The actions were taken during a brief public business meeting held in Conrad and recorded by the commission. Commissioners also canceled the Feb. 26 meeting because several commissioners plan to attend the Montana Association of Counties Midwinter meeting in Helena.

Commissioner 2, a Pondera County commissioner, moved approval of an encroachment agreement with the City of Conrad that would allow a stormwater system to run along Blazin Road to Pendrick Creek. Commissioner 2 said they had reviewed the agreement repeatedly and supported approval; the motion passed after a voice vote. The commission then approved an encroachment agreement authorizing a driveway approach for Jacob and Haley Gray on Sam George Hill Road; the county record shows Frosty reviewed and signed the application before the vote.

The commission approved updated job descriptions for dispatcher/detention positions, adding two part‑time schedules described in the documents as 60 percent (three‑fifths time) and 80 percent (four‑fifths time). Commissioners said the updates were minor and reflected the county’s newer computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) system; the record notes full‑time dispatcher descriptions had been updated previously.

On a request from the county attorney, commissioners tabled consideration of creating a part‑time court advocate position. The county attorney told the commission the office had previously joined a multi‑county arrangement for that service but had withdrawn after that arrangement did not work; the attorney expects to return with a job description. The position as described in the meeting would be roughly six hours per week, but commissioners tabled the item to allow staff time to draft the job description.

Commissioners approved the January minutes and then took up a locally numbered Resolution No. 18. The resolution expresses the county’s opposition to proposed state legislative action aimed at prohibiting or limiting the Montana Association of Counties’ (MACO) ability to lobby on behalf of member counties; the motion to adopt the resolution passed by voice vote. During the discussion the resolution was described as intended to avoid requiring each county to travel separately to Helena and to preserve coordinated representation.

Votes at a glance: • Cancellation of Feb. 26 meeting (Montana Association of Counties Midwinter attendance): motion passed by voice vote; mover/second not specified in the record. • Encroachment agreement — stormwater system, Blazin Road (City of Conrad to Pendrick Creek): motion passed by voice vote; mover/second not specified. • Encroachment agreement — driveway approach for Jacob and Haley Gray, Sam George Hill Road: motion passed by voice vote; mover/second not specified; file reviewed and signed by “Frosty.” • Revised dispatcher/detention job descriptions (part‑time 60% and 80% schedules): motion passed by voice vote; mover/second not specified. • Part‑time court advocate (roughly 6 hours/week): tabled pending a job description from the county attorney; action: tabled. • Approval of January minutes: motion passed by voice vote; mover/second not specified. • Resolution No. 18 opposing state limits on MACO lobbying (referenced in meeting as “Bill 254,” as recalled by a commissioner): motion passed by voice vote; mover/second not specified.

Discussion vs. decision: Most items were brief and procedural. The encroachment agreements and personnel updates were approved without extended debate; the part‑time court advocate was discussed as a reinstatement of a local position after withdrawal from an intercounty arrangement and was tabled for staff to prepare a job description. Commissioners noted the dispatcher descriptions were updated to reflect the county’s new CAD system. The resolution opposing the legislative restriction on MACO lobbying was framed as preserving coordinated advocacy for counties.

The meeting adjourned after the votes. No additional public comment on the recorded items appears in the transcript.